Jazz halt Blazer streak

Gordan Giricek's name was not muttered.

But the implication was clear Monday, when the debut of new acquisition Kyle Korver helped lift the Jazz to a 111-101 New Year's Eve victory over Portland at sold-out EnergySolutions Arena.

The longtime Philadelphia sharpshooter finished with 11 points in 18 minutes off the bench, and was one of six from Utah to score in double figures and trump LaMarcus Aldridge's career-high 36.

Joining him as the 17-13 Trail Blazers saw their NBA-high 13-game winning streak end were Carlos Boozer and his team-high 19 points; Deron Williams, who had 18; Matt Harpring, whose 15 were a season-high; and Andrei Kirilenko and Paul Millsap, who chipped in 14 apiece.

But it wasn't just Korver's ability to knock down shots that had Jazz coach Jerry Sloan — whose club improved to 17-16 overall, 11-3 at home — glowing afterward.

"He can shoot it," Sloan said, "but he also will pass the basketball. It's not like he's just gonna dribble until he gets his shot. He either shoots it or passes — and it's amazing how simple a game it is when you play that way, and everybody gets to be a part of it.

"You know, right off the bat he caught the ball and dropped it in ... to Boozer for a play that we haven't been making. And that makes teams guard you a little bit differently."

That sure seems like an indirect reference to longtime Jazz swingman Giricek, who frustrated Jazz coaches so much he was traded last Saturday to the 76ers along with a lottery-protected future first-round draft choice.

Utah's lone net in the deal was Korver, who sparked the Jazz from an early deficit with his hyperactive first-half play and wound up finishing on the floor as starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer watched from the bench along with starting center Mehmet Okur.

"People think you have to be able to jump through the top of the backboard to be able to play," Sloan said.

"But there are still places for guys that know how to play, pass the ball, shoot the open shots and go from there," the Jazz coach added after outing No. 2 in a three-game homestand that concludes Wednesday with a visit from — guess who — Giricek and the 76ers. "It's not all about just getting points for yourself — even though, you know, we'd like for him to shoot it."

After Portland got up by as many as 12 in the opening quarter, Korver obliged, entering in place of backup shooting guard C.J. Miles with 5:46 left in the second quarter and the Blazers up 39-35.